I actually didnt discover Mike Oldfield until the past year or so when I had been listening to Prog for about the past 15 give or take. I found out about him from Prog Brittannia the BBC documentary. I absolutely love the major works of his especially Tubular Bells (of course), though Im actually much more a fan of side 2 than side 1, Ommadawn for any number of reasons, Hergest Ridge to a lesser degree and even quite a bit of his later output. Thoughts?

"Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic."

I don't think that Mike Oldfield is progressive, and does not need the honors from PA or Melody Maker or New Music Express to get his accolades and deserved credit for the great composer he is.

Very simply, Mike, Vangelis, Riuychi Sakamoto are probably the 3 greatest composers in the past 50 years, and there are not very many classical composers that can even rival the output and quality of the work they have. Maybe a Stravinsky or Benjamin Britten ... but not a whole lot of others with such an excellent output of music in the last 100 years. I also believe Klaus Schulze and Edger Froese/Tangerine Dream deserve to be in this club!

I would also seriously reconsider why someone is thinking that something has to be "progressive" by our terms in order to be heard, or known!

It's not about being "progressive" at that point. It's about having the guts and balls to do what you see and feel and not fall victim to the masochistic and fanatical socialistic definitions of popular music that it all has become, strictly as a sale tool and an advertising emblem!

Edited by moshkito - November 01 2011 at 19:48

... none of the hits, none of the time ... now you know what the inner art is all about! www.pedrosena.com

I agree, though I do think he put (proportionally) as much effort into his shorter tracks as he did the longer ones and over the years I've come to like the inconsistency in his output (especially the "Ibiza" influenced stuff of TB3).

Incantations will alway remain my personal favourite.

"You know what uranium is, right?Itís this thing called nuclear weapons. And other things. Like lots of things are done with uranium. Including some bad things.But nobody talks about that."

I don't think that Mike Oldfield is progressive, and does not need the honors from PA or Melody Maker or New Music Express to get his accolades and deserved credit for the great composer he is.

Very simply, Mike, Vangelis, Riuychi Sakamoto are probably the 3 greatest composers in the past 50 years, and there are not very many classical composers that can even rival the output and quality of the work they have. Maybe a Stravinsky or Benjamin Britten ... but not a whole lot of others with such an excellent output of music in the last 100 years. I also believe Klaus Schulze and Edger Froese/Tangerine Dream deserve to be in this club!

I would also seriously reconsider why someone is thinking that something has to be "progressive" by our terms in order to be heard, or known!

It's not about being "progressive" at that point. It's about having the guts and balls to do what you see and feel and not fall victim to the masochistic and fanatical socialistic definitions of popular music that it all has become, strictly as a sale tool and an advertising emblem!

Personally I think Frank Zappa rivals and surpasses them but I do like Mike Oldfield, his guitarwork has an unique quality to it.

Hergest Ridge ,Ommadawn,Incantations,Amarok and Songs of Distant Earth are all amazing as far as I'm concerned. I very much second Moshkito's comments about Oldfield and Vangelis. Both remarkably creative musicians.

Oldfield has perhaps had to battle with his personal demons which has held him back from making more amazing albums. Amarok came about almost as a two fingered salute to Richard Branson after their 'break up',something about 'cloth ears' I believe.

Has to be said there are some mediocre efforts like the later TB series although I was never 100% convinced that the original album was a masterpeice. Far too rambling and unfocused for my liking. Hergest Ridge has far fewer ideas but is far more beautifull imo.

Albums like Platinum,QE2 and Crises are worth checking out for sure although there was perhaps more attempt to make his albums 'commercial' at that time. They are'nt bad though just a mixed bag.

I would recomment checking out Oldfield's DVD's. There are a lot out there and they are all decent quality. I especially like the 'Exposed' one that was filmed in the late seventies including a rocked up version of Tubular Bells.

Been an Oldfield fan since I was a kid and think his early albums are of very high quality in it's content. His post-Incantations ones (up to Crises) are very good as well but after that it's far more up's and downs. Tubular Bells 2, Amarok and Songs From Distant Earth are excellent though.

RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on!
EXERIOR Experimental tech/death/progmetal from Norway!

For me Tubular Bells and Ommadawn are the best Oldfield albums. Still looking for Exposed. Incantations is on my wish list too ...

It will cost about 50 bux, here in the US, but the EXPOSED DVD is massive and worth having, and getting a chance to see Pierre Moerlin, Pekka Pohjola, Maddy Prior and everyone else simply marvellous, is a major treat and worth it ... and I still think that is one of the best concerts with an orchestra and rock band I have ever seen.

... none of the hits, none of the time ... now you know what the inner art is all about! www.pedrosena.com

Hergest Ridge ,Ommadawn,Incantations,Amarok and Songs of Distant Earth are all amazing as far as I'm concerned

Add Tubular Bells and the Montreaux DVD and you have my list. I also like Tubular Bells 2.

I am also still looking for a copy of Exposed.

The Live at Montreaux DVD is probably my second favourite Mike Oldfield DVD. There is also a double sided DVD that has TB2 and TB3. The live version of TB3 at Horse Guards Parade is another of my favourites. Much more enjoyable than the studio version imo.

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot create polls in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum